French writer Clara Dupont-Monod, winner of the Femina award

The French writer Clara Dupont-Monod was awarded this Monday with the Female, one of the awards most reputed of French letters, for his novel S’adapter, while the Turkish journalist Ahmet Altan it was recognized in the category of best foreign novel.

The Femina jury, made up exclusively of women and created in 1904 as opposed to Goncourt, where there was only male representation, decided on S’adapter after a tight vote.

Dupont-Monod, 48, was the winner in the eighth round with six votes in favor, while another five went to the French Thomas B. Reverdy, for his novel Climax.

Published at the end of August in France, S’adapter is a family story about a child with a disability who seeks his place among the rest of his siblings and with his love for nature as a backdrop.

In the category of best foreign novel, the Turkish Altan (1950) was awarded for his book Madame Hayat, which has not yet been published in its original language, and which was written during the journalist’s time in prison.

Altan was jailed in the purge that took place in Turkey after the 2016 coup attempt, accused of sending subliminal messages to incite the uprising. He was released from jail in April this year by order of the Supreme Court.

In the category of best essay the winner was Annie Cohen-Solal, awarded by A stranger named Picasso, a book about the treatment the Spanish painter received as a foreigner and the reasons why he never obtained French nationality.

The Femina opens the way to the season of French literary awards: this Tuesday the Medici Prize will be awarded, on Thursday the Grand Prize of the French Academy, while the winners of Goncourt and Renaudot will be known on November 3. (I)